Ordnance.



Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. D. SMITH.

ORDNANCE.

APPLIOATIQN FILED 11017.12, 1910. BBNEWED 111111.12, 1912.

WMM Q00 o W. D. SMITH. ORDNANGE.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV,12, 1910. RENEWBD AUG. 12, 1912. 1,055,820. Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. D. SMITH.

ORDNANGE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV,12, 1910. RENEWED AUG.12, 1912.

1,055,820, Patented Mar. 11,1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

p STATES PATENT parte.

D. SMITH, 0F WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 0F COLUBIA.

ORDNANCE.

1,055,820, Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar. 11, 1913 Application tiled November 12, 1910, Serial No. 592,042. Renewed August 1S, 1912. lSerial lio. 714,706.

To all 'whom it mag/concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM D. SMITH, a resident of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ordnance, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, inwhich- Figure 1 is an end elevation of the/breech of a gun, showing a well known form of breech operating mechanism provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial end elevation showing the same parts as in Fig. 1 but on a larger scale. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of Fig. 3 with the operating lever in section. Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing a modified form of the locking mechanism. Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the breech showing the form of Fig. 5,. Fig. 7 is an inner plan view of the breech operating link, Fig. 8is a top plan view of this link.

vso

My invention relates more particularly to that class of guns wherein Huid is admitted to clear out the residue of the explosion after firing, in order to prevent flaebacks, and'. premature discharges.

Such devices are shown, for example, in my...

Patents 944,973 and 944,974, dated December 28, 1909.

`The main feature of the present invention is to provide a positive indicator for showing whether or not the air has performed its function in driving out the residues; and also to form this positive indicator as a locking device, which will prevent the opening of the breech mechanism unless the air has entered and performed its work. This mechanism is so arranged that if the air performs its work the lock is released and the operator can open the breech, but if, for any reason, the air has not entered and blown out the residues, the breech will be positively locked and ,cannot be opened except by special manual movements of the operator.

The invention. also relates to a special means for movingr backV the spindle in case the spring' has not performed its function,

,iQ-,the spindle cushioning means and othe)` '.tures hereinafter described.

l .-rIn the drawings 1 represents the breechl ef the gun having the usual breech block2, with its carrier 3 hinged at 4. 5 is lthe usual operating lever, which vis'mounted on the same axis as the breech block, and is provided with theV usual gearing 6 and 7, which operate the linkS, which in turn is ivoted to the breech block at 9. In this fEdrm of breech mechanism, which is, of course, only one of many formsto which my invention may be applied, the continuous operating of the lever 5 will, through the gearing and link, first turn the breech block on its axis to unlock it from the screw box, and then give it a movement of translation and swing it outwardly from the screw box on the pivot 4. Y In this form of device the firing mechanism indicated at 10 is carried on at the rear end 11 of the stem 12 of the usual mushroom 13, this stem having a slight longitudinal movement relative to the breech block. y

' In order to supply Huid to the interior of the gun after the shot is fired I show the axial pipe 15 concentric with-the pivot 4. The branch pipe 16 communicates with this pipe 15 and being fixed on the breech block carrier will swing with this block in its movements. The branch. pipe connects withI the passage 17 through the carrier 3, which passage leads the air into the chamber 16 from which it enters longitudinally -grooved passages 18 cut in the outer surface of the stem 12. These grooved passages, as shown in Fig. 2, extend to the rear edge of the as check 58 or to ,the face of the breech lock. The spindle must, therefore, move suiciently to carry the front ends of these grooves past the straight portion of the gas check or pad before the high pressure air can enter the, gun. Surrounding the spindle 12 is a sleeve 24, which is of three different diameters, its rear portion beingl of the largest diameter, the 'portion 25 of the next smaller diameter, and the forward portion of still smaller diameter. .This sleeve is held by the nut 60 and the part 24 acts as an abutment for the spiral spring 21,

'whose other end abuts against the recess in gitudinally of the axis of the gun to1su'ch a distance that the front ends of the grooved passages are uncovered by passing the straight portion of theopening through the gas check, thus admitting fluid into the gun to drive out the residue of the explosion. This fluid vflows out 'in an annular .sheet around the mushroom head, issuing between it and the gas check. i In this-mechanism a spring is employed to return the mushroom after it is movedl forward in' the gun; vand to assist the action of this spring, as well as to assist inthe cushioning of theforward movement of the spindle, I provide 'side pas-- sages 22 in the carrier sleeve, theends 23 of which are soV located that they. will be uncovered bythe shoulder 24b of. the sleeve 24 when the mushroom moves forward, thus admit-ting air in front ofthe shoulder 24 movement.

and assisting thesprng' to retract the mushroom, as well as vcushioning the forward The shoulder 25br on the sleeve is aIA square shoulder -which engages shouldery 26of the breech block on'ithe' forward movement of the stem before the spring has become solid, this shoulder receiving the shock and preventinginjury to Vthe spring.

I will now describe my improved positiveindicator and locking device, which is actuated by and depends upon the movement of the spindle, and which not only shows whether o r not the air has roperly entered,

but also prevents the opening' of the breech unless the air has so entered and performed vits function.

Vnormally holds this latch pressed downwardly and pivotedto the latch at37 is a link 38 having a bifurcated .upper end, to which is pivoted a second link 40, also bifurcated at its upper end to receive the roller 41. The link 40 slides up and down through the hole in the guide lug 42, fastened to the bracket 30, this lug having at one side an upward guide 43 to support the roller on one side. To the left hand side of the firing mechanism l0 VI secure a wedge-shaped piece 51, which is arranged to enga e the under side of the roller 41 when thev ring mecha nism moves forwardly. In such case the wedge acts to lift the link system and consequently swin the latch against the pressure of its spring into the dotted line position in Fig. 3.-.-'I`his takes the latch out of the path of the lip 35 and `allows the breech to be opened. When the high pressure fluid is admitted and-the firing mechanism 10 is forced forward, it therefore lifts the latch out of its locking position and releases the lever 5. The air now having performed its proper' function, I provide means .on the return of the firing mechanism, for preventing it from again locking the lever 5 until after the breech has been opened. For this purpose I provide the latch 34 with a lug 55, to whichis pivoted a dog 56, arranged to drop into a vnotch 57 inthe operating link 8 of the breech block. On lifting the link system this dog 56 dro-ps into the notch and will therefore hold the latch lifted when the Iiring mechanism returns. The lever 5 will therefore be free to be operated after the air has entered and .performed its function. When, however, the lever 5 is `operated 'to open and close the breech, it will, through the link 8, move the ivot 9 lalong a ath substantially concentric tot the bore o the gun, and thereby will move. the. notch 57 downwardly and to the right, as shown inl Fig. 3, and thus disengage the dog from the link. The spring 36 will thereupon immediately restore the latch to its normal full line position, whereupon the lever 5 is again locked. When the lever is brought back to closelthe breech block the incline on the face of 35 will lift the latch, which will then drop in front of thisprojection and lock the lever.

In oase the air has not been properly admit-v tedto clean out the residues and it is def sired to open the breech, this can be done by manually lifting the latch. A

In order. to provide means for positively moving the spindle back to its normal position if the spring has failed to return it, -I arrange the lever 8, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The hole 61, which is entered by the operating stud 62 on the firing mechanism,

-I make deeper than usual to accommodate a.

greater forward movement of the spindle above described, and from this hole a""liev eled incline 63.leads up to the usual inclined groove 64 in the link. By means of this bevel, if the spindle is moved forward and is not returned by the sprin the movement of the link will, through t e inclined cam surface thereon, force the stud backwardly and thus positively move the spindle back to its normal position. y

In Figs. 5 and 6 I show a modified form of locking device. In this case parts similar to parts are marked with the same numerals with the letter a attached. In this case the latch 34a is practically the same as before, but the dog 56 is done away with and an endwise movable spring ressed pin 65 is mounted in a transverse liole yin the lower link, 38". The under end of this pin 65 has a rounded head which, if the lever 5a is in a locked position, is pressed against the outer vertical face of the link. When, however, air is admitted and performs its cleaning out function the movement of the spindle, acting through the same wedge 51, will lift the link system and will spring the latch, and will thereby raise the spring pressed pin above t `e top of the link 8, whereupon its head will beforced over the top of the link and will rest thereon. The latch system is thus held in a raised position, thereby unlocking the operating handle 5. When the breech block is opened the link 8 moves out from under this spring pressedk pin, whereupon the link system drops down to its normal locking position. hllhen the breech block is again closed the latch will ride up the incline 35 on the lever and drop in front of it. This incline is not of suflicient height to lift the link system to its locking position during this action.

The advantages of m v invention-will apparent to those skille in this art. I n t only provide a positive indicating device which will show whether or not the air has been admitted and performed its function, but I also positively lock the breech against opening until the air has been so admitted and cleaned out the residues. At the same time the device allows the locking device to be unlocked by hand in case it is desired to open the block when the air has not propi block, of a fluid injector carrled by the block erly entered. The incline on the operating link 8 Aalso serves to positively return the spindle in case the spring has not returned it, air being allowed to enter the .spring cavity around the spindle, and also aids in cushioning the forward movement' of the spindle and assists in returning the Spindle. Many changes may be made in the former arrangement of the breech mechanism, the firing mechanism, the locking means, etc., without departing from my invention, which may be applied to different types of guns having different types of breech mechanism and firing mechanism, and also having different methods of advancing the spindle. The means for injecting fluid may also be varied without departing from my invention.

What I claim is 1. In a gun, the combinationwith a breech block, of a fluid injector carried by the block and movable relatively to the block, a positive indicator having connectionsarranged to be actuated by the movement of the fluid injector and means to retain the indicator in its shifted position.

2. In a gun, the combination with a breech block, of a spindle extending through the block and carrying the mushroom, means for moving the spindle longitudinally, means for injecting fluid through said spindle in one position thereof, a positive indicator actuated by the movements of the spindle and means to retain the indicator in its ment of the fluid injector, an

.` position a admitting means, A anism controlled by the movement of said fluid` admitting means.

positively force the 3. In a gun the combination with a breech block, of a fluid injector carried by the block and movable relatively thereto, and a locking device for the breech block actuated by movement of the fluid injector. j

4. In a gun, the combination with abreech block, of a fluid injector carried by the block and movable relatively thereto, and a movable stop in the path of the breech mechanism, said stop having connections actuated by the movement of the fluid injector.

5. In a gun, the combination with a breech block, of a fluid injector carried by the block and movable relatively thereto, vice arranged to be actuated b ment of the fluid injector, an for holdin the locking device ocking dethe movemechanism in unlocked `p osition a er actuation, until the breech is opened. y A 1 6. In a gun, the combination'with a breech block, of a fluid injector carried b the block and movable relatively thereto, a ocking/device arranged to be actuated b the movemechanism' the locking device in unlocked er actuation until the breech is for holdin out'of and then into position by the closing of the breech.

7. In a gun, the combination with a breech and movable'relatively thereto,.a movable stop in the path of the breech mechanism to i prevent its being opened, ated by movement of the fluid moving thestop out of its lockingposition.

and means operinjector for 8. .'In a gun, a breech block having fluid and breech locking mech- 9. In a gun,the combination with a breech block, of a fluid injector carried by the 1 block and movable relative thereto, 'a breech block operating link, and means on the breech block operating' link arranged to fluid injector to'its normal position, substantially as described.

10. In a gun, the combination with a breech block, of a fluid injector carried by the block and movable relatively thereto, and a breech block operating link having an inclined face arranged to positively force the fluid injector to its normal position when the link moves the block.

11. In a gun, the combination with a. breech block, of a fluid injector carried by the block and movable with relation thereto, a pressure chamber, a piston connected to the fluid injector and located within the pressure chamber, a spring arranged to return the fluid injector, and ports arranged to equalize the pressure on both sides of the piston when said piston has been advanced a predetermined distance, substantally as described.

prising a mushroom return to its latching position; substantially as described. v

15. A safety device for breech loading guns having a removable breech block, a(iomprising a mushroom head having a spindle extending through the breech block, pressure inlet ports arranged to be controlled by the movement of the mushroomhead, a fluid lressure supply for said ports, means for a vancing the mushroom head to open the ports to admit fluid pressure to thebcre of the gun, breech block removing mechanism, a latch for said mechanism, and a cam arranged to be actuated by the move- -ment of the mushroom head to raisew the latch out of engagement with the br`eech block removing mechanism; substaxtially as described.4

16. A safety device for breech loading 12. A safety device for a breech loading gun having a removable breech block, comprising a mushroom head having a spindle extending through the breech block, pressure inlet ports arranged to be controlled by the movement of the mushroom head, a fluid pressure supply for said ports, means for advancing the mushroom head to open the ports to admit fluid pressure to the bore of the gun, breech block removing mechanism, a latch for said mechanism, and latch releasing mechanism: arranged to be actuated by the movement of the mushroom head to unlatch the breech block removing mechanism; substantially as described.

13. A safety device for a breech loading gun having a. removable breech block, comprising a mushroom head havinga spindle extending through the breech block, pressure inlet ports 'arranged to be controlled by the movement of the mushroom head, a fluid pressure supply for said orts, means vfor advancing the mushroom liead to, open the ports to admit fluid pressure to the kbore of the gun, breech block removing mechanism, a latch for said mechanism, latch releasing mechanism arranged to be actuated by the movement of the mushroom head to unlatch the breech block mechanism, and means to retain the latch in its unlatched position; substantially as described.

14. A safety device for a breech loading gun having a removable breech block, comhead having a spindle extending through the breech block, pressure inlet ports arranged to be controlled by the movement of the mushroom head, a Huid pressure supply for said ports, means for advancing the mushroom head to open the gorts to admit fluid ressure to the bore of t e gun, breech blocE removing mechanism, a latch for said `mechanism, latch releasing mechanism arranged to be actuprlsing a mushroom head having a spindle extending through the breech block, pressure inlet ports arranged to be controlled by the movement ofthe mushroom head, a fluid ressure supply for said ports, means for a vancing the mushroom head to open the orts to admit fluid pressure to the bore of t e gun, breech block removing mechanism, a latch for said mechanism, a cam arran d to be actuated by the movement f te mushroom head to raise the latch out engagement with the breech block removing mechanism, and means to retain the latch in its unlatched position; substantially as described.

17. In a gun, a breech block having Huidadmitting means and breech block locking mechanism arranged to be actuated by the movement of the fluid-admitting means to unlock the breech block, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing lalte'di by tie lmoveigent of tlfJ mushroom witnesses.

ea to un atc the reech bloc mechanism, means to retain the latch in its unlatched WILLIAM D' SMITH' pOsltion, and means controlled by the move- Witnesses: ment of the breech block removing mecha- A. L. HoUGH, nism to release the latch and permit it to B. G. Fosrna.

guns having a removable breech block, com- 

